Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1904 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON.

The difficulties which encountered Washington when he took up his great trust as commander-in-chief of the continents army were most complicated and immense. The theater of the straggle was a vast one, geographically, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to 'South Carolina, while the whqle population was only three millions—not very much greater than that of the State of Michigan, and not so great into a million as that of Illinois. Out of this small, scattering and peaceful [lopulption an army was to be raised, organized and equipped capable of contending with the chief military and maritime power of the globe. And it was not to be a struggle between government nnd government, between one nation and another. It was a rebellion, nnd there was really no central authority, no arms or warlike stores, no navy, no treasury or financial system or responsibility. It

was only a brave anod patriotic people, small iu numbers, without discipline or military experience, without arms nnd without money, rushing thus bare-handed into a conflict‘with the mother country, their own government; a powerful nation, which had recently been raised by the genius of the elder Bitt to the front rank among the great warlike nations of the world —a nation whose military posts and possessions already (lotted the globe, whose victorious navies covcri'd every ocean and sea, whose morning drum beat, ns Webstei* said, was heard round the world. It was against such a power as this that this handful of patriots had thrown down the gage of rebellion and defiance. Washington is known in history as a providential man; that is, a man raised up by Providence to fill a great place and perform a great mission. However this may be. he certainly hnd great parts and great nnd peculiar fitness for the most difficult nnd trying place which he filled in history. He hnd had experience in the previous Indian and French wars, and had proven himself a wise, competent nnd heroic officer. He bad great persona) advantages for command. He was -of fine physique and imposing

presence, a splendid horseman, carrying with him ever the port and air of authority nnd native majesty—an ideal comma nder; So when this noble Virginian appeared before that northern army nud drew his sword as their commander under those Cambridge elms his fame had preceded him and he was received with shouts of welcome and of confidence. Then all men knew it was to be a struggle to the death. Hardly a better instance does history afford of patience under provocation, of dogged determination under difficulties, of unconquerable will and courage, holding on so long and coming out triumphant at last over such mighty opposition. These great qualities, as we have already seen, belonged to the man more than -to thk soldier. It was indeed the great man behind the soldier, the man with the -great patriotic heart, with the wise head, aud tlie lofty, unshaken soul, that brought us through that long and tremendous struggle and gave us our glorious place and opportunity among the nations. No other man on this continent but h« could have done it. Greene, among the geneials of the revolution, would hare come nearest to it, but he would have failed. But in looking over the whole field nnd feeord, in the light of all the facts nnd history, it will be seen that Washington made no military mistakes, that he improved nil his opportunities, that his generalship will stand the test of criticism. He struck whenever he had tin chance, his plans were good, and whencompelled. his retreats wore masterly.

MARTHA WASHINGTON.